Retractable bed

ABSTRACT

A retractable bed has a frame with pairs of legs standing against opposite walls of a room and horizontal room spanning members extending between tops of the legs against the ceiling of the room, a bed platform, four retracting lines slidably extending from the corners of the bed platform vertically upward to the horizontal members, along the horizontal members, and downward at one pair of legs, a counterweight adjacent to a pair of legs attached to the retracting lines, four support lines extending from the corners of the bed platform over pulleys at the tops of the legs, and slack take-up weights at the ends of the support lines over the pulleys limiting the travel of the support lines over the pulleys and up slack in the support lines when the bed platform is retracted upward to the horizontal members balanced by the counterweight. The retracting lines pass over the pulleys mounted on a single shaft disposed over the counterweight so that a sheave and endless rope may rotate the shaft to raise and lower the bed platform between retracted and sleeping positions.

United States Patent Glass [451 May 13,1975

[ RETRACTABLE BED Frederic E. Glass, 448 W. 46th St., New York, NY.10036 22 Filed: Jan. 14, 1974 211 App]. No.: 433,232

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No.349,933, April ll, 1973, abandoned, which is a continuation-in-part ofSer. No. 243,311, April 12, 1972, abandoned.

[76] Inventor:

Primary ExaminerCasmir A. Nunberg Attorney, Agent, or FirmPeter L.Tailer [57] ABSTRACT A retractable bed has a frame with pairs of legsstanding against opposite walls of a room and horizontal room spanningmembers extending between tops of the legs against the ceiling of theroom, a bed platform, four retracting lines slidably extending from thecorners of the bed platform vertically upward to the horizontal members,along the horizontal members, and downward at one pair of legs, acounterweight adjacent to a pair of legs attached to the retractinglines, four support lines extending from the corners of the bed platformover pulleys at the tops of the legs, and slack take-up weights at theends of the support lines over the pulleys limiting the travel of thesupport lines over the pulleys and up slack in the support lines whenthe bed platform is retracted upward to the horizontal members balancedby the counterweight. The retracting lines pass over the pulleys mountedon a single shaft disposed over the counterweight so that a sheave andendless rope may rotate the shaft to raise and lower the bed platformbetween retracted and sleeping positions.

10 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures FATENTEB MAY 1 3M5 SHEET 10F 4 PATENTEB WY 31975 3,882 554 SHEU 2. 0F 1 HJENTED HAY I 31975 3. 882,554

SHEET 3 OF 4 PATENTED HAY 3 31975 SHEET 0F 4 47 ill. 43

RETRACTABLE BED CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS Thisapplication is a continuation-in-part of my patent application Ser. No.349,933 filed Apr. II, 1973, which, in turn, is a continuation-in-partof my patent application Ser. No. 243,311 filed Apr. 12, I972 both nowabandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Small modern apartments are difficult tofurnish in a conventional manner. A bed is particularly cumbersome as itremains a large unfunctional unit when not in use. Conventionalconvertible sofa beds cannot be made in light aesthetic forms. Thusthere is a need for the retractable bed of this invention whichdisappears against the ceiling when not in use freeing all the floorspace under it.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view of theretractable bed of may invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a fragment of the bed platform withsupport and retracting lines attached thereto;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a central pulley assemblyfixed to the broken away end of a cen ter member of a horizontal memberwith broken away ends of a transverse member and a telescoping memberpositioned for assembly;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a support pulley assembly with a supportline passing therethrough having a take-up weight fixed to the end ofthe support line;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a broken away end of the frame of theretractable bed showing a counterweight suspended between a pair oflegs;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a lower end of a leg having a screwadjuster fixed thereto and showing a cover removed therefrom;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a broken away end of a counterweightholder;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a broken away end of a cover for theholder of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a broken away end of the frame of theretractable bed with support and retraction lines removed showing amodification thereof;

FIG. 10 is a side view of a flexible connecting rod;

FIG. 1 1 is a side view of a sheave modified to receive one end of theconnecting rod of FIG. 10; and

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a modification of my retractable bed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As shown in FIG. 1, theretractable bed of my invention has a frame 10 supported by its twopairs of legs 11. Extending between the tops of the pairs of legs 11 aretransverse member 12 each having a central member 13 from whichtelescoping end members 14 and 15 extend. A bed platform 16 is supportedin a lowered sleeping position by four support lines 17 and is raisedinto a retracted position by four vertical retracting lines 18 and 18'which are fixed to counterweight 19.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, support pulley assemblies 20 and 20' havelower shanks 21 which fit into the tops of the tubular legs 11. Thebodies of assemblies 20 and 20' each contain a recess 22 within which apulley 23 is journalled on an axle 24. A vertical bore 26 extends upwardfrom the bottom of each shank 21 to communicate with a recess 22 so thateach support line 17 can be threaded up through bore 26 and recess 22over a pulley 23. A slack take-up weight 27 is fixed to the end of eachsupport line 17 to hang within a tubular leg 11. Thus weights 27 take upslack in the support lines 17 as bed platform 16 is raised and theweights 27 are larger than the bores 26 so that they are stopped byshanks 21 to hold bed platform 16 at a desired sleeping level.

Horizontal shanks 29 projecting from the bodies 25 extend into the endsof the tubular members 14 and 15. Resilient pads 30 are fixed on top ofthe bodies 25 to bear against the ceiling of a room when the bed of myinvention is installed. Assemblies 20 and 20' are identical except thatassemblies 20' are journalled to receive a shaft 28.

As shown in FIG. 3, central assemblies 31 are clamped on both ends ofeach center member 13. The telescoping members 14 and 15 slide withinthe members 13. The body 32 of each central assembly 31 contains arecess 33 within which a pulley 34 is journalled on a bolt 35 which isturned axially into body 32. Further screwing of bolt 35 into assembly31 causes it to engage and deform the end of a central member 13 to fixit within clamping frame 36 and lock a member 14 or 15 from slidingwithin member 13. A passage aperture 37 is provided next to the top ofpulley 34. This aperture 37 is only used in one pair of assemblies 31 toaccommodate a retracting line 18. A shank 38 receives the end oftransverse channel 39 about it so that the channels 39 secure thetransverse members 12 a spaced distance apart.

As shown in FIG. 6, each leg 11 has a bottom plug 40 having a lowerflange 41 inserted upward within it. Plug 40 contains a threadedaperture 42 to receive a screw jack 43 therein. Jack 43 has a foot 45 onwhich it is rotated by turning a nut 44 welded to it. Foot 45 has aresilient floor pad 46 fixed under it. A cover 47 slips about the bottomof each leg 11 and is slid downward to hide screw 43. The rear edges ofcover 47 are cut away to accommodate a standard baseboard of a room.

As may be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, bed platform 16 is a frame having sides48 and ends 49 disposed about a mattress support board 50. Cleats 51 and52 or the like are used to adjustably secure lines 17, 18 and 18' to thecorners of platform 16.

Referring again to FIG. 5, the support pulley assemblies 20' have theshaft 28 journalled to extend through them. Two sheaves 53 are fixed toshaft 28. Each sheave 53 contains two grooves to receive the lines 18and 18'. A single sheave 54 on one end of shaft 28 has an endless loopof rope 55 pass over it so that pulling a run of loop 55 will retract orlower bed platform 16.

As may be been in FIGS. 7 and 8, counterweight holder has upper andlower flanges 61 and 62 between which weights 63 are slipped to balancethe weight of platform 16 and any bedding thereon. Lines 18 and 18' arefixed to upper flange 61. Cover 64 has a top 65 and ends 66 tocompletely conceal weights 63. Counterweight 19 remains between a pairof legs 11 to take little space.

The retractable bed of my invention enjoys a number of advantages. Sincethe bed platform 16 is supported in the lowered sleeping position bylines 17, the only load these lines 17 impose on member 12 is incompression. The much lighter retraction load which only includes theweight of platform 16 and bedding is taken by lines 18 and 18'. Onlythis lighter retraction load imposes a bending load on member 12. Thusboth members 12 and the entire frame may be fabricated from relativelylight materials at a practical cost. Further, the frame 10 can beelongated or shortened to span any room as the members 14 and 15telescope into the central member 13. Elaborate cross bracing forrendering the frame 10 rigid is not required as the screw jacks 43 jamand lock each leg in a fixed position between the floor and ceiling. Thepads 30 and 46 prevent damage to an apartment and prevent the legs 11from slipping. Since the retractable bed is completely selfsupportingand does not need to be bolted or otherwise fixed permanently in place,it may be easily moved and it meets with the approval of landlords.

FIGS. 911 show a modification of this invention. Sheaves 53' and 53" aremounted to rotate independently on assemblies '.Sheave 53 has sheave 54'mounted to rotate with it, sheave 54 having an endless loop of rope 55,as shown in FIG. 5, pass about it.

Sheaves 53' and 53" contain pairs of apertures 70. A connecting rod 71has U-shaped forked ends 73 which enter the pairs of apertures 70. Rod71 should be of three-sixteenth inch to one-fourth inch steel to allowit to twist.

This modification functions as follows. If users sit on a side of bedplatform 16 as shown in FIG. 1, the support lines 17 on that side maystretch to lower the loaded side so that the retracting lines 18 and 18on the low side slip over the sheave 20' on the low side. This misalignsthe retracting lines 17 so one side of the platform 16 retracts higherthan the other. With the above modification, connecting rod 71 twists toaccommodate any unequal stretching of support lines 17 and then springsto realign the sheaves 53' and 53" and evenly retract platform 16.

FIG. 12 shows a modification of my retractable bed in which the supportlines 17' are crossed at each end of the bed platform 16. Thismodification prevents even gentle sideways swinging of the bed platform16 and thus stabilizes it against any substantial motion in normal use.The crossed lines 17 tend to pull the assemblies 20 and 20 inwardly sothat light compression members 80 and 81 should be inserted between thepairs of assemblies 20 and 20.

While my invention has been shown and described in the best forms known,it will nevertheless be understood that this is purely exemplary andthat modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

1 claim:

1. A retractable bed comprising, in combination, a frame havingtransverse members and two pairs of legs supporting the ends of saidtransverse members to span a room adjacent to the ceiling, a bedplatform smaller than the span of said room, support lines fixed to thecomes of said bed platform, pulley means at the ends of said transversemembers over which said support lines run, slack take-up weights on saidsupport lines beyond said pulley means limiting travel of said supportlines over said pulley means securing said bed platform in a lowesleeping position with said support lines extending upward and outwardfrom the corners of said r bed platform to said pulley means at the endsofsaid transverse members, four retracting lines extending verticallyupward to said transverse members fromthe corners of said bed platformand extending slidablyalong said transverse members to extend downwardadjacent to one pair of said legs, and a counterweight fixed to saidretracting lines substantially balancingthe weight of said bed platformas said platform is retracted upward against the ceiling, said slacktakeup weights taking up slack in said support lines as said bedplatform is retracted.

2. The combination according to claim 1 wherein Y said transversemembers each have a central member and two end members telescoping intothe ends of said central member to fixed therein to span a room. a

3. The combination according to claim 2 wherein said central member arethe length of one dimension of siad bed platform, and with the additionof central assemblies containing pulleys over which said retracting 7lines run, said central assemblies being fixed at the ends of saidcentral members and wherein said legs have screw jacks at their lowerends jamming said frame. between floor and ceiling.

4. The combination according to claim 1 with the addition of a shaftjoumalled at one end of said transverse y membes, said shaft havingsheaves mounted thereon over which said retracting lines run andfromwhich said counterweight hangs.

5. The combination according to claim 4 with'the addition of a singlesheave mounted on said shaft, and an endless loop disposed oversaidsingle sheave, pulling said loop rotating said shaft retracting andlowering said bed platform.

6. The combination according to claim 1 wherein M said legs are tubularand said pulley means are at the tops of said legs, said slack take-upweights hanging from said support lines within said tubular legs.

7. The combination according to claim 1 wherein I said counterweight isan elongated flat weight hanging between a pair of said legs.

8. The combination according to claim 1 with the ad- 1 said first andsecond sheaves are between said transverse members and contain pairs ofaperture; and

wherein said shaft has forked ends engaging said pairs of aperturesconnecting said sheaves, and with the addition of a single sheavemounted to rotate with said first sheave, and an endless loop disposedover said single sheave so that pulling said loop rotates said first andi second sheaves retracting and lowering said bed platform.

10. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said support linesextend from the ends of said bed platform to said pulley means; whereinsaid support lines cross at the ends of said bed platform; and withtheadi dition of compression members extending between the,

ends of said transverse members of said frame.

1. A retractable bed comprising, in combination, a frame havingtransverse members and two pairs of legs supporting the ends of saidtransverse members to span a room adjacent to the ceiling, a bedplatform smaller than the span of said room, support lines fixed to thecornes of said bed platform, pulley means at the ends of said transversemembers over which said support lines run, slack take-up weights on saidsupport lines beyond said pulley means limiting travel of said supportlines over said pulley means securing said bed platform in a lowesleeping position with said support lines extending upward and outwardfrom the corners of said bed platform to said pulley means at the endsof said transverse members, four retracting lines extending verticallyupward to said transverse members from the corners of said bed platformand extending slidably along said transverse members to extend downwardadjacent to one pair of said legs, and a counterweight fixed to saidretracting lines substantially balancing the weight of said bed platformas said platform is retracted upward against the ceiling, said slacktakeup weights taking up slack in said support lines as Said bedplatform is retracted.
 2. The combination according to claim 1 whereinsaid transverse members each have a central member and two end memberstelescoping into the ends of said central member to fixed therein tospan a room.
 3. The combination according to claim 2 wherein saidcentral member are the length of one dimension of siad bed platform, andwith the addition of central assemblies containing pulleys over whichsaid retracting lines run, said central assemblies being fixed at theends of said central members and wherein said legs have screw jacks attheir lower ends jamming said frame between floor and ceiling.
 4. Thecombination according to claim 1 with the addition of a shaft journalledat one end of said transverse membes, said shaft having sheaves mountedthereon over which said retracting lines run and from which saidcounterweight hangs.
 5. The combination according to claim 4 with theaddition of a single sheave mounted on said shaft, and an endless loopdisposed over said single sheave, pulling said loop rotating said shaftretracting and lowering said bed platform.
 6. The combination accordingto claim 1 wherein said legs are tubular and said pulley means are atthe tops of said legs, said slack take-up weights hanging from saidsupport lines within said tubular legs.
 7. The combination according toclaim 1 wherein said counterweight is an elongated flat weight hangingbetween a pair of said legs.
 8. The combination according to claim 1with the addition of first and second sheaves independently journalledat the ends of said transverse members over which said retracting linesrun and from which said counterweight hangs, and an elasticallytwistable shaft connecting said first and second sheaves.
 9. Thecombination according to claim 8 wherein said first and second sheavesare between said transverse members and contain pairs of aperture, andwherein said shaft has forked ends engaging said pairs of aperturesconnecting said sheaves, and with the addition of a single sheavemounted to rotate with said first sheave, and an endless loop disposedover said single sheave so that pulling said loop rotates said first andsecond sheaves retracting and lowering said bed platform.
 10. Thecombination according to claim 1 wherein said support lines extend fromthe ends of said bed platform to said pulley means; wherein said supportlines cross at the ends of said bed platform; and with the addition ofcompression members extending between the ends of said transversemembers of said frame.